Alexis' Top Stock Picks For 2008

Here are my top five stock picks. I have had some duds along the way that I simply had to unload. While I off loaded the underperformers I picked up some stocks that have been performing nicely in spite of the current economic downturn. This will probably change again soon so keep checking back.

Cogo Group Inc. (COGO) - This is a Chinese firm that has been up 23% since I bought it

Tiffany & Co. (TIF) – I love, love, love this store. Can’t afford anything in it so I bought the stock which I could afford. It’s up 9%

Volkswagen AG Spons ADR (VLKAY) – This foreign car company is one of my favorite stock picks. It’s up over 100%!!- Hey, drive a Volkswagen.

Silicon Precision Industries (SPIL) up over 14%

Cisco Systems (CSCO) – up over 40%

Most of the stocks I now have in my portfolio are cheap. We are talking under $10. So I trade actively. I learned this lesson the hard way. I held on to Pfhizer (or however you spell it- right now it really doesn’t matter to me I spell it L-O-S-E-R) because it was pharmaceutical company.

Most analysts were saying hold. So I did. This loser went down 45% from when I bought it. That’s when I finally sold. NEVER AGAIN. I’ve set a threshold. When a stock falls between 8-12% I sell. Ain’t nothing going on but the rent got to have P-R-O-F-I-T if you want to stay with me.

Check out Investing 101 for how I invest. I’m not greedy, just looking to make a little money. Let me say this about “professional “ advise. They do just that –profess. Eight cases out of ten when I go with gut instinct I am usually right. I mainly read their advise to see what they are investing in and recommending. I then do my own research. This is a must. If I don’t understand the business and/or like the product I don’t buy it.

Right now, I’m not doing too much trading. I’m just watching how things are falling out on Wall Street. I am tracking about thirty (30) stocks. Most aren’t doing so well EXCEPT some of the Chinese ones.

As the stock market goes South, I’m looking East to Asia – specifically China and India- So if any of those can hold their own during this crisis I’ll grab it up.

By the way, stocks are my long term investment so I am prepared to go the distance. For short term and emergency savings Money market funds are the way to go.

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